If the coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s the irreplaceable value of what used to be considered “women’s work”: caring, cleaning, farming and food preparation.
They’re the lifeblood of our communities as we’ve discovered. And, while we were distracted by politics (and, let’s face it, the mountain opening), across the world, New Zealand has just passed a law eliminating pay discrimination against women in female-dominated occupations, tackling one of the most intractable issues of our time—“pay equity.”
Importantly, many of these jobs are not well-compensated, some typically pay below living wage, and many on the frontlines have unsafe or poor working conditions. The average pay for grocery clerks in Whistler is $13.99, a cleaner $16.07, a community health worker $22—all below the living wage ($25.73) for a family in Whistler. One in four people in B.C. have jobs that do not pay enough to live on, and one in five children are growing up in poverty!
Teachers, also undervalued, are on the frontlines of the pandemic, dealing with the pervasive issues that arise from children in their classrooms who need more than just a learning environment. Children living in poverty can have long-term learning and health issues, perpetuating toxic cycles we seek to prevent.
Inspiringly, New Zealand has begun to re-envision the place in their society the people in these jobs occupy. A social worker who deals with the opioid crises, food or housing security, domestic violence, or trauma and mental health issues brings extraordinarily valuable talents and capabilities to work—emotional dexterity and resilience, for instance, and that’s the first hour of the shift, not dissimilar to police officers.
It is time to value the work that is getting us through this pandemic. It is time to make universal childcare a reality, not a promise. It is time to use WorkSafe dollars in a way that actually benefits women in vulnerable work, and incentivize businesses that are making these positive changes. It is time to nationalize food banks to ensure that no child goes hungry. It is time to pay caregivers a living wage, including maternity.
It shouldn’t take the confluence of a pandemic and an inspiring leader from New Zealand to chart a just course and begin tackling the consequences of women’s low-paid work. It is time.
Amanda Ladner // Whistler
Help for those who need it
Thank you for highlighting the current challenges faced by members of our community with opiate use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic in “Overdose prompts warning to community not to use drugs alone,” and “B.C.’s other pandemic needs our attention too” [in the Nov.26 issue of Pique.]
Whilst [both are] excellent articles about important issues, there has been a missed opportunity to highlight the services in the Sea to Sky corridor that have been designed specifically in response to the epidemic of overdoses in B.C.
Addiction care programs are available here and now, rather than being “aspirations for the long term.”
The OAT clinic (Opiate Agonist Therapy) provides access to pharmacological therapies, namely Suboxone and Methadone, to help community members manage their addictions. The clinic provides a wraparound, low-barrier, supported and non-judgmental approach to helping people with opiate use disorder
The Overdose Outreach Team is available to meet people where they are at in their journey with addicitons.
Harm-reduction supplies, Naloxone kits, needle exchange, safe-smoking kits, education and training are all available and just a call away
Anyone seeking more information and access to these programs is encouraged to call. [For] Pemberton intake, [call] 604-698-5861; for Whistler intake, [call] 604-698-6455, [and for] Squamish intake, [call] 778-894-3200.
Dr. Danielle Patterson // Whistler
Some perspective after Opening Day 2020
I don’t remember the actual dates but I very much recall the events. And boy, does history repeat itself in this community.
The first time the proverbial sky was falling was when Intrawest took over Whistler Mountain and merged the two organizations. That’s right, Whistler and Blackcomb [mountains] used to be owned and operated separately. The only formal cooperation between the two mountains was you could get a dual-mountain ski pass. Most community members, including myself, were either in one of two camps. You were a Whistler skier or you were a Blackcomb skier.
Blackcomb allowed snowboarders and Whistler banned them. They even had two different ski clubs and there were great rivalries in the valley (I wish it was still like this). Then Intrawest (owner of Blackcomb) bought Whistler, and OMG, the valley was in an uproar. The plot was that of an evil corporation taking over a family-run operation. And, as far as the community was concerned when Whistler was taken over by Intrawest, “the Big Old Softie” as we knew and loved it was lost forever. Articles and letters to the editor galore. But then something funny happened. It was all OK, and the skiing experience on each mountain was basically the same as it was before the acquisition … hmmm.
Fast forward to a decade or so later and Intrawest sells Whistler and Blackcomb to Fortress Capital. And, if you thought Intrawest was evil, Fortress was the Devil dressed in Bogner. Again, it was end of days and our valley might as well have been the Lake of Fire. I recall many articles and letters to the editor, this time discussing the “Aspenization of Whistler.” Again, something funny happened after a while. It was generally all OK. The skiing experience (it was a bit busier) didn’t really change that much … hmmm.
Fast forward another decade, and Vail Resorts acquires Whistler Blackcomb. Well, I probably don’t need to go into detail because you all remember, and it’s safe to say that once again there was turmoil in our valley.
I have been observing with interest the third major shift in ownership/operations that I can remember, and history again is repeating itself.
Sure, there were a few hiccups (parent pass, integrating Vail Resorts’ technology platform and the Blackcomb Gondola … ouch) when Vail Resorts took over, but as far as I can tell, the experience is much the same.
Not to diminish the sentiments of others, but I personally didn’t notice the lower quality of grooming, food and customer service, and the ski school is still the best on the planet as far as I am concerned. Prices did seem to rise, but relative to other sports, skiing has always been extremely painful on the bank account.
Fast forward once again to this past opening weekend, and everyone was watching how Vail Resorts would handle its opening during COVID-19.
I know some who fully expected it to be a failure. So I am calling it as I see it. It was nothing short of first class this past weekend as far as I am concerned.
Reservations were hard for this O.G. to handle, for sure, but all things considered, the Vail Resorts and Whistler Blackcomb operating teams absolutely nailed it! My weekend of skiing felt safe, organized and just plain awesome.
With all of this said, I am hoping we are moving into that next phase of historic repetition, and coming to the realization that maybe these big corporate guys that employ many people in our valley aren’t totally terrible.
Moreover, maybe they are in fact decent operators. History seems to suggest that it’s going to be all right.
Anyway, nice work this past weekend Vail Resorts and Whistler Blackcomb.
Beau Jarvis// Whistler and Vancouver
Please keep your masks on in lineups
Today I, (61 years old) waited in line behind a group of 20-to-30-year-olds who sipped their Starbucks coffees sans masks in the Blackcomb Gondola line up at the Upper Village. Though the supervising Vail Resorts employee repeatedly (on three occasions) reminded them to pull up their face coverings, they did so only for the few seconds he was in their purview. They sipped those Starbucks coffees, laughed and talked without masks for the entire corral until they handed their garbage off to the available employee at the gondola load.
I did try to email Vail Resorts to suggest maybe [they tell people they] “should not eat and drink in the lineup in order to keep a mask on.” [But] to no avail. There is no “contact us” unless you’re buying something.
Cheryl Springman // Whistler
Thank Ullr for Max
This week’s [Maxed Out] column was just another excellent example of Max’s finger always being on the nose of our time.
His “you read somewhere” quote should be emblazoned on every social media page.
Too many know [people] spewing their own ignorant ideas without any ramifications has created a sense of self worth in people well beyond their line of credit.
Let’s end this era of alternative facts once and for all and get back to reality, no more “I read somewhere!” allowed.
Milo Brucks // Whistler
CEP grant to the Whistler
Pickleball Association
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Whistler Pickleball Association (WPA), thank you to the Resort Municipality of Whistler council for providing a grant through the Community Enrichment Program to assist in [our] ongoing development of the sport of Pickleball in Whistler.
The funds granted to the WPA have enabled it to purchase a Lobster Pickleball Machine that will benefit all of its members. The machine is perfect for players and coaches looking to improve their skills and get an edge in competition as well as adding value to membership of the WPA.
Norm Binion, interim co-president // Whistler
Only way to control COVID-19 on mountain is to close
As a retired healthcare worker and previous full-time resident of Whistler, I read the recent article on Whistler Blackcomb “urging patience and personal responsibility” with interest (Pique, Nov. 26).
While the COO of [Whistler Blackcomb] wants the mountain to stay open, he must realize that most skiers are no different than grown-up kids. Just like children who find it hard to resist a candy bar waved in front of them, many skiers who have been enticed to buy season’s passes are not going to stay home in Vancouver, especially on those days with fresh powder.
Likewise, both the Whistler mayor and the medical director of the Whistler Health Care Centre must know that asking skiers from Vancouver to stay at home is no better than [Provincial Health Officer] Dr. Bonnie Henry asking us all to practise personal responsibility; it works for some, but not for all.
The only way to completely avoid spreading COVID-19 at Whistler is unfortunately to close the mountain down until there is better control of this pandemic.
Perhaps [Whistler Blackcomb COO] Geoff Buchheister can convince his corporate friends to send Canada a few doses of vaccine to help us out, then Whistler Blackcomb can be opened safely for all of us to enjoy.
John Hayley // Parksville
More bus shelters needed now
I was a transit rider in the early 2000s when I lived in Brio and worked in Function Junction. I stood on the highway five days a week across from Panorama Ridge waiting for the bus. It’s not fun trying to stay dry under an umbrella or dodging vehicles spraying salty slush.
At that time, I sent an email to the mayor and council of the day regarding the need for more bus shelters but I never received any reply. To date, not one new bus shelter has been built except at Cheakamus Crossing for the 2010 Olympics and at Rainbow.
From Village Gate Boulevard going south, there are zero bus shelters except one at Franz’s Trail/Creekside. No bus shelters are available at Brio, Alta Vista (two stops), Nordic, Bayshores or Alta Lake Road.
If you are heading north from Function Junction to the village along Highway 99, there are nine bus shelters: Spring Creek, Alta Lake Road, Bayshores, Franz’s Trail/Creekside (two), Nordic (three) and Alta Vista.
This makes me think that the Resort Municipality of Whistler is only interested in sheltering visitors and workers going to Creekside or the village and has no concern for anyone heading south to Creekside or Function Junction.
Maybe it is time to spend our tax dollars on building additional bus shelters and this might also encourage more locals and visitors to use Whistler Transit instead of their vehicles.
Perhaps mayor and council should experience waiting for a bus along Highway 99 in a freezing snowstorm, or with pelting rain bouncing off the pavement while trying to hold onto your umbrella and not get soaked!
Kathy Macalister // Whistler
